On Saturday, the Magic Kingdom celebrated 45 years of operation at the Walt Disney World Resort. In honor of this milestone, a few special events and offerings took place at the park, and of course, WDWNT was on the scene to check them out.
45th Anniversary Welcome Show
Guests were greeted just beyond the Magic Kingdom’s turnstiles by a slightly altered version of the daily welcome show, complete with a very nice banner hanging from the train station:
45th Anniversary Cinderella Castle Ceremony
A special one-time-only ceremony was held at Cinderella Castle, featuring 45 Disney characters, the Walt Disney World ambassador team, and president of the resort, George A. Kalogridis:
45th Anniversary Specialty Food Offerings
Two specialty food offerings were available on Saturday: a “Celebration Dog” at Casey’s Corner on Main Street U.S.A., and a 45th anniversary cupcake (in two flavors) that was available throughout the park. Here is a short video review of both of those items:
Reportedly, the Muppet Mobile Lab show will return after to Epcot after a several year hiatus today. The show will only be at the park for the next four weeks.
Muppet Mobile Lab is a free-roving, audio-animatronic entertainment attraction designed by Walt Disney Imagineering, that was tested at Disney California Adventure, Epcot at Walt Disney World and at Hong Kong Disneyland for an extended period. It was shipped back to Walt Disney World with the intention of adding it to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but for some reason it is simply going to Epcot for now. It should head over to Hollywood Studios at the conclusion of this test.
The project began as a continuation of Disney’s “Living Character Initiative,” a program that has generated other interactive shows at Disney theme parks including Lucky the Dinosaur, Turtle Talk with Crush, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, and Stitch Encounter.
In 2009, the attraction was honored with the Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement (Technical) from the Themed Entertainment Association.
While many of us love Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, but it would be hard to deny that the food menu at the Florida location has just never quite lived up to the delicious meals offered at the California counterpart. Well, the “east coast family tree” has introduced 3 new items this week which may change your mind about dining with your drinks at the Grog Grotto or exterior Tiki Terrace bar and lounge.
Thai Chicken Flatbread ($12.00)
Thai Chicken Flatbread ($12.00)
This is a thai chicken flatbread with a peanut sauce and bacon and tomato. This is particularly unique and as delicious as it is a strange offering. You wouldn’t necessarily think that a peanut sauce on a flatbread with cheese is a good idea, but this dish really pulls it off. This might be my new favorite dish at Trader Sam’s.
Sticky Wings ($10.00)
Sticky Wings ($10.00)
The world’s most ubiquitous bar food, wings have finally arrived at Grog Grotto and Tiki Terrace. These wings are the very same that you will find around the resort’s other eateries, and that’s not a bad thing. This is what the Polynesian is known for, so you should be able to get them throughout the resort.
Sticky Wings ($10.00)
Wonton Chips with Duck Sauce ($3.48)
For $3.50, this is a pretty good deal. The fried wonton chips (known by some as “Poly Chips”) go well with the accompanying duck sauce and are a good size bar snack, something not really offered on the prior Trader Sam’s menu.
Overall
I love these additions to Trader Sam’s. I love the drink menu here so much, but the food menu was always missing a better variety of items that aren’t sushi or a rather dry taco. These new items in addition to what is already offered make an evening at Trader Sam’s, for both food and drink, a more viable option.
It’s hard to believe that it was only done as a short test over 9 years ago with how much people talk about loving the Muppets Mobile Lab that once appeared at Epcot. You would think it had appeared at the park for years based on the legacy it has developed amongst fans. Well, starting today, guests can see the “living character” show at Epcot daily through the next 4 weeks.
The Muppets Mobile Lab returns to Epcot in 2016 for another test run
The show is critically acclaimed for its technology, including fully interactive characters who are a free-roaming audio-animatronics unit on wheels. The show also features that trademark Muppets humor that doesn’t miss even though the characters aren’t manned directly by human beings, much like The Muppets present Great Moments in American History over at the Magic Kingdom (which debuted yesterday).
Here is a video of one of today’s performances:
Now that is it back, I implore Walt Disney World to keep this offering. Please move this to Hollywood Studios and make this a regular offering. I have never met anyone who wasn’t wowed by the technology or who wasn’t amused by the humor of the program. Muppet Mobile Labs deserve a permanent home at the Disney Parks after this second testy run at Epcot.
Our latest photo report brings us to the Magic Kingdom on its 45th anniversary weekend, but changes in the park certainly didn’t stop for the festivities. Rapid progress on the look of Tomorrowland continues, Stitch’s Great Escape has closed, and OK, we have some duck pictures.
Magic Kingdom 45th Anniversary
A special commemorative map was given out to mark the day.
The opening day resorts and the park also had complimentary buttons for guests.
The day began with a special welcome show at the Train Station:
Plenty of specialty merchandise was available (the line lasted over an hour at some points though).
The line wrapped around the Emporium and went down most of the street.
The main event of the day was a special anniversary ceremony at Cinderella Castle:
A special “Celebration Dog” was being served at Casey’s Corner:
Big Top Treats had some special candy apples.
Gaston’s Tavern and the Main Street Bakery were serving the infamous anniversary cupcake.
This time, guests could choose chocolate or vanilla cake.
The only piece of the open edition merchandise that came out on the 1st was this lanyard and pin set. That being said, most of the open edition items are currently sold out.
There’s a Tomorrowland mural under there, and no, it’s not by Mary Blair.
This and That
The Carousel of Progress finally got its new marquee sing, but you probably already saw that post…
The often congested Fantasyland bottleneck is now equipped with permanent signage for cast members to use. This only took 45 years.
Only 8 days before it happens, Disney releases a “Glowing Away Soon” shirt for the Main Street Electrical Parade. This shirt will be outdated in less than week. Why not put the final day on it? Oh, in case it gets rained out this weekend…
There is a fantastic photo-op at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe right now featuring Sonny Eclipse, “the biggest little star in the universe”.
New Space Mountain Lighting
After years of waiting, LED lighting was finally installed on the exterior of Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom and it looks fantastic!
MagicBand Interactivity Returns
Right after we reported that they were off, many interactive elements returned to the Magic Kingdom. The goodbye at “it’s a small world” was turned on, but has still been breaking a lot.
A large section of The Legacy Continues area is blocked off. This could be for a new exhibit, but this space is right next door to the theater where the Dr. Strange sneak peek is being shown.
Cast members at the exhibit have not yet been informed what is going on behind the walls. The One Man’s Dream exhibit is located inside of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Walt Disney World is already warning all guests staying at Disney resort hotels that their vacations may be affected by Hurricane Matthew.
Guests at these resorts were left a voicemail by Disney telling them that their vacations may be affected and that they will be updated as soon as more information on the path of the storm is available.
Orlando is not set to be hit directly by the storm on its current path, but that can change. Regardless, some foul weather is expected at Disney World over the weekend.
Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
With Hurricane Matthew looming, Walt Disney World is in many cases waiving cancellation fees for vacations booked by guests at Disney resort hotels.
Hurricane Matthew may effect Walt Disney World vacations
Disney is reportedly willing to work out arrangements with any guests staying at the resort Wednesday, October 5th through Sunday, October 9th, 2016. It is not guaranteed than fees will be wavered, but many guests are being offered full refunds without penalization upon contacting Disney.
Guests staying at some Disney resorts hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort are being moved for their safety.
Hurricane Matthew having its effect already on the Walt Disney World Resort.
Disney is offering a change of accommodations for guests at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds. Disney is offering these guests rooms at many of their other resort hotels on property and not any one specific resort.
The accommodation changes are being made today as Disney hopes to have these guests out of Fort Wilderness by Thursday.
